Judas in Jesus sandals: Casually dressed Garry Lyon emerges from tell-all interview with a broad grin after revealing he is STILL dating Billy Brownless' ex-wife Nicky and sent a text apologising to his former mate - but never heard back

Garry Lyon has opened up about his affair with the wife of his 'good mate' Billy Brownless in an emotional interview, saying he texted him to apologise but never got a response.

On Tuesday, the father-of-three sat down for a candid chat with veteran sports journalist Mike Sheahan about his mental health struggles, return to public life and his relationship with Nicky Brownless, who he confirmed he is still dating.

'Nicky and I are together and I'm eternally grateful she was able to support me through all of this and I'd like to think there'll be no more interest,' he told SEN radio.

A tearful Lyon admitted he had not spoken to Billy Brownless since before Christmas 2015 after the affair was exposed in February 2016 and ultimately led to the collapse of Brownless' marriage.

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Garry Lyon has spoken out about his affair with Nicky Brownless in a tell-all interview on Tuesday. He is pictured here in Melbourne with Tim Watson just after the pre-recorded interview went to air

Lyon (second right with ex-wife Melissa) was forced out of the public eye early in 2016 after it was revealed he had an affair with Nicky Brownless (second left), wife of fellow presenter and best mate Billy (left)

Lyon said he might not have responded to the text message apology either if the roles were reversed.

'I know I've caused a lot of pain for the people I've been close to, in particular my ex-wife Melissa,' Lyon said.

'If people think I haven't recognised that, they would be wrong.

'It has been really difficult and there are lots of layers to that - many of which I won't go into'.

In March 2016, Brownless opened up about the toll the affair has had on his family, saying 'a good mate wouldn't do that' and believed the secret relationship could have been going on for up to four years.

'I couldn't believe it. I found out three or four months ago. I asked Garry and Nicky earlier on what is going on and they said they were just good friends. That's what hurts the most,' Brownless told the Footy Show.

Lyon admitted he might not have made it through his mental health struggles without the support of Nicky and confirmed the couple were still in a relationship.

On being asked if he was on speaking terms with ex-wife Melissa, Lyon said it is 'a side of his life he would never talk about'.

Lyon said he first sought professional help for his mental health struggles eight years ago, but stopped treatment after two weeks.

'I was embarrassed to put my hand up and say I'm struggling,' he said.

Lyon said after news of the affair broke 12 months ago, his life 'came to a grinding halt,' but was able to push through with the help of a professional, who he chose not to name.

'He went way above and beyond and I spent time at his property and met with him twice daily for therapy,' Lyon said. 'In the end it became a friendship'.

Lyon also put to bed rumours he did his shopping at midnight to avoid confronting people, saying the claims were 'ridiculous'.

The pre-recorded interview aired in full after 8am on Tuesday and Lyon (pictured with Watson just after) said the past 12 months have 'been the most humbling in [his] life'

Watson and Lyon were seen ducking into a coffee shop after the pre-recorded interview went to air on Tuesday just after 8am

Brownless (pictured with Nicky in 2013) opened up about the affair in March 2016, saying 'a good mate wouldn't do that'

Lyon (right) also put to bed rumours he did his shopping at midnight to avoid confronting people, saying the claims were 'ridiculous'

Brownless is pictured posing with his two daughters, and youngest son Oscar. His other son Max, 17, is not pictured

Asked about why he had chosen to do the interview, Lyon said he 'didn't regret it' and added that people will feel the need to talk about what happened to him

The former footy star returned to work after a year on Monday, and is co-hosting SEN breakfast radio with Hamish McLachlan and Tim Watson.

Lyon told Sheahan he was 'nervous' about his return to breakfast radio and has been trying to balance his workload after his 12-month recovery.

He said he has lowered his medication and has started meditating.

The pre-recorded interview aired in full after 8am on Tuesday and Lyon said the past 12 months have 'been the most humbling in [his] life'.

'Because when you get to this stage in your life, when you lose control of your emotions, it just strips all ego from you, because you are in the hands, or your fall at the feet at whoever can help you.

'You have this situation where you can't control your emotional state. I've historically been a confident person, I've got a really healthy ego.

'Sometimes your self awareness isn't what it should be, because you can get carried away ... you ride your success without stopping to say, hang on, where am I at.

'If anything, I've never been more self aware then I have been right now, and hopefully, you know, I'll come back with a degree of humility that helps me recognise maybe in others, if they are struggling.

Brownless posed for a photograph with Footy Show co-host Rebecca Maddern

The fallout caused a rift between Lyon and close friend and fellow presenter Brownless (pictured), and ultimately led to the collapse of Brownless' marriage to Nicky

Speaking about his decision to lay his struggles bare in an interview, he said: 'I wasn't sorry I did it [the interview].

'I can't sit here and not expect some talk about what has happened in the past 12 months or so.'

Lyon dropped all of his presenting duties in 2016 after his affair with Nicky Brownless was exposed in early February.

After news of the affair broke in 2016, Lyon's former teammate David Schwarz said the situation was a 'tragedy'.

'Now two families are torn apart. We've got two blokes who were best mates,' he told The Age.

'For that to happen — and there's only one reason for that and that's shocking decisions that have been made by consenting adults that have crossed a line and probably ruined relationships and passed a point of no return — unfortunately great relationships are probably ruined forever.'

Lyon and Brownless had been friends for 15 years and worked together on the popular AFL Footy Show between 2009 and 2015.

After Sheahan asked if Lyon (centre) believes things would have different if he approached Brownless (left) first about his relationship with Nicky, he said he 'understands' why people might be critical